If you get a chance, read Joker's W3 review - it pretty much sums up the W3 - they are so tip dependent it is crazy. So many people hear different things. I like them a great deal - they have a great raw sound that I enjoy for certain styles of rock music. I used to see a lot of live shows where every detail WASN'T there - but I had a great time (I might have been drunk as well) The W3 gives me what I expect from them, nothing more - a raucous sound.

Then my dilemma still persists... God why does this have to be this hard?

The cs operator I talked to said W series were supposed to be more neutral sounding so they replicate exactly the pre recorded music, whereas UM sounds warmer and more fun because this is what singers need on stage... Go and figure...

I don't know what's wrong, but my w3 is far from neutral. More like a v shaped sound signature.

Relative to other IEM's, W3 is somewhat artificial sounding. Large mid-bass hump, very V-shaped sound sig. Recessed mids so vocals are not all that great. But the bass hits hard and is weighty. The treble is crispy detailed and there is a large soundstage making it a fun sounding IEM.

Depends on what kind of neutrality you're talking about. From a tonal perspective, the W3 is very neutral; its mids sound like mids, its bass sounds like bass, and the treble is just treble, with none of it bleeding anywhere. What it has is bass with decent control but way too much volume; it doesn't distort or really bleed into the mids or really color them, but it definitely has a lot more volume to it; contrast this with something like the W4 or SM3 which have fairly neutral bass quantity but warmer mids. A similar comparison would be to the DT770 (big bass but neutral mids, like the W3) vs the HD598 (light on bass but very warm).

Its definitely not flat, though; far from it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro

Relative to other IEM's, W3 is somewhat artificial sounding. Large mid-bass hump, very V-shaped sound sig. Recessed mids so vocals are not all that great. But the bass hits hard and is weighty. The treble is crispy detailed and there is a large soundstage making it a fun sounding IEM.

A month ago while awaiting a DAP I demoed some IEMs in a shop an hours drive away, and chose the Westone W40s as the best alrounder amongst those I heard. Nice with my iPhone but now X5 arrived, this is the first chance they have really had to shine.

Firstly, tried Ice On The Motorway from Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey's great new album. Boy, these boogie, and we have started with the sole mp3/320 album loaded. Great timing.

Next up, my current hi-res test track, Panic Station by Muse. Low bass lovely, separation great, only matched for me by the ZX1/JH16 combo I heard previously, definately in the same ball-park.

Neil Young's Heart Of Gold 24/96 sounds so pure and life-like for an old 70's recording.

Better try FLAC as that's what most of my playing will be, Jeff Beck's Brush with the Blues (another favourite test track since hearing in a Naim demo), so spacious, you can each each separate member of audience's laugh from The live Grammy Museum recording. Lovely fast finish of drums then you hear the cyballs sustain. The guitar sounds sublime on this, the drums fast, lovely club ambience. This is the track that most amazes me, a DAP and good IEMs can capture only what a top-flight audio system can.

Back to hires, this time worried about my Yes albums playing OK as someone reported an X5 problem with 24/88 music and these are 24/176, a multiple. Played fine, amazing separation and tone on Long Distance Runaround.

Difficult to separate the effect of the Fiio and the W40s but together I am extremely pleased. With a little iPhone listening I much preferred the Silicon W40 tips. With the X5, both the Foam and Silicon sound terrific. Slightly more open treble with Silicon, but happily can enjoy both.

Back to hires, this time worried about my Yes albums playing OK as someone reported an X5 problem with 24/88 music and these are 24/176, a multiple. Played fine, amazing separation and tone on Long Distance Runaround.

I find that "The Yes Album" in lossless or other high quality formats is a great tool to gage IEMs' - the separation of instruments, the varying locations, the excellent bass playing by Chris Squire - Bruford's amazing drumming - the dynamic range - all go into making it one of my favorite albums for portable listening. I don't know why I haven't ripped "Close To The Edge" and "Relayer" yet...

They are a band I saw live back in the 70's numerous times - and as recently as last year (Steve Howe really needs to put on some weight)

I find that "The Yes Album" in lossless or other high quality formats is a great tool to gage IEMs' - the separation of instruments, the varying locations, the excellent bass playing by Chris Squire - Bruford's amazing drumming - the dynamic range - all go into making it one of my favorite albums for portable listening. I don't know why I haven't ripped "Close To The Edge" and "Relayer" yet...

They are a band I saw live back in the 70's numerous times - and as recently as last year (Steve Howe really needs to put on some weight)

Just great headphone music..

My mate has about 8 versions of hi-res Close To The Edge! Think Steve Wilson has just mastered a new version. I really like Relayer, most friends I've spoken to rate it one of Yes's worst. Have seen them three times but not for years. Glad they were good last year as they are coming to my home town end of this month! Small venue, not where you would exactly expect to see them. Couldn't believe it when the tour was announced. YouTube clip of new singer sounds promising. Shall enjoy The Yes Album tomorrow ;-)

My mate has about 8 versions of hi-res Close To The Edge! Think Steve Wilson has just mastered a new version. I really like Relayer, most friends I've spoken to rate it one of Yes's worst. Have seen them three times but not for years. Glad they were good last year as they are coming to my home town end of this month! Small venue, not where you would exactly expect to see them. Couldn't believe it when the tour was announced. YouTube clip of new singer sounds promising. Shall enjoy The Yes Album tomorrow ;-)

Yes, Steven Wilson's 5.1 remaster of Close to the Edge is spectacular.

A couple of years ago I saw both a Genesis and Yes cover band in LA - the Genesis band was torture - the lead singer looked and sounded like a chartered accountant - but the Yes cover group was great - the singer sounded just like Jon Anderson. Then I get corralled by a friend to see Yes last year and lo and behold, the cover band lead singer was fronting them - so yes, you will like the guy - he hits the notes and gets the inflections. That fact I believe helps the other members get into it more - they are having more fun - and if you have ever seen Chris Squire close up - a smile is like pulling teeth...

Oh, and Relayer was the first tour I saw Yes play - so I have a soft spot for it - I think it is a brilliant album - it jams hard.

Ive got the W3, and I really love it. I'm contemplating getting the UM PRO 50, but I'm kinda worried about if it has less bass and treble than W3, then I won't like it. Plus I really like the open clarity of the W3, and worried the warmth of the Pro 50 will detract from clarity and open sound stage. Anyone heard both that can compare them?

Ive got the W3, and I really love it. I'm contemplating getting the UM PRO 50, but I'm kinda worried about if it has less bass and treble than W3, then I won't like it. Plus I really like the open clarity of the W3, and worried the warmth of the Pro 50 will detract from clarity and open sound stage. Anyone heard both that can compare them?

Without eq, the um pro 50 is more balanced in terms of volume, mids aren't recessed like the w3. Bass is certainly there, just a touch less than on the w3.

It have been awhile since I demoed the um pro 50, That's about all I can accurately recount.

Without eq, the um pro 50 is more balanced in terms of volume, mids aren't recessed like the w3. Bass is certainly there, just a touch less than on the w3.

It have been awhile since I demoed the um pro 50, That's about all I can accurately recount.

Thats quite helpful, What about the treble on the UM 50, I am guessing that since people refer to it as warm that it has very smooth or rolled off treble? While my W3 has pronounced sharp highs which I like. Do you remember UM 50 vs W3 treble difference?